Folding chair



Oct. 2, 1934. F. SIMMONS 1,975,520

FOLDING CHAIR Original Filed June 10, 1931 INVENTOR FLnn Szmmons ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 2, 1934 FOLDING CHAIR Finn Simmons, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor of onethird to Freeman W. MacDonald, Blissfield,

New Brunswick, Canada,

and one-third to Howard C. Seaman, East Orange, N. J.

Application June 10, 1931, Serial No. 543,477, g Renewed February 121, 1934 8 Claims.

This invention relates to folding chairs, and comprehends an improvement over the common type of cross-legged chair having a rigid seat and back rest.

The present invention aims to provide a folding chair of this general description which folds compactly and which may be moved from its open to its closed position or vice versa with one hand, by virtue of interconnection of the back rest, legs and seat.

The invention further aims to provide a chair of the indicated character which is strong, durable and safe against accidental folding when in its set up condition 'and which is properly braced in all directions so as to withstand the ordinary usage to which it may be subjected.

Other objects of the invention reside in a chair of the character set forth which employs few and simple parts capable of economical production and assemblage and which is highly efficient in its purpose;

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the chair in its set up condition, the same being taken approximately on the line indicated at 1-1 in Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the chair in the set up condition;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the chair in folded condition. I

Figure 4 is a sectional'view taken approximately on the line 4'-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference; A and B designate generally the front and rear leg structures, the former including a pair of side rails 10 joined by a bight 11 at the lower end and the latter including a pair of side rails 12 joined by a lower connectingbight 13. The side rails 10 of the front leg structure arelonger than the side rails 12 of the rear leg structure, and said'side railsare pivotally connected intermediate their ends as at 14, whereby the leg structures'may be folded to a nested position, as clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The upper extremities of the side rails 10 are connected as at 15 to the r gid seat 16 and lie within the depending side flanges 17 of the seat structure. An inverted U-shaped back rest frame,

designated generally by the reference character C,

includes a pair of side rails 18 joined at their upper end by a transverse bight portion 19. The side rails 18 are also pivoted as at 15 to the rear of the seat structure 16, and said side rails are disposed outside of the flanges 17. The upper ends of the side rails 12 of the rear leg structure B are pivotally connected as at 20 to the side rails 21 of a link' structure designated generally at D; which side rails 21 are joined by a transverse bight 22 at their lower ends. The upper ends of the side rails 21 of the link structure are pivotally attached as at 23 to the seat structure 16, preferably to the depending bearing terminals 24 of a cross strap 25 which is secured to the under side of the seat structure. The'lower ends of the side rails 18 of the back rest structure 0 depend below the pivotal connection 15 with the seat and are offset inwardly as at '26, defining a transverse stop'portion 2'7. Thefree terminals of the offset portions 26 are pivotally connected as at 28 to the side'rails 29 of a linkstructure designated generally by the reference character E, and the rear ends of said side rails 29 are joined by a connecting bight 30. The forward ends of the side rails 29 are pivotally connected as at 20 to the side rails 21 of the link structure D and to theupper terminals of the side rails 12 of the rear leg structure B.

When in its set up condition illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the stop portions 27 of the back rest frame engage behind the upper ends of the side rails 10 of the front leg structure A and limit the opening movement of the chair while the pivotal point 20 moves forwardly to a past center position with reference to the pivotalvpoints 14 and 23. It thus follows that the weight on the seat 16 irrespective of the point at which it is impinged, cannot cause a collapse of the chair from its set up condition, and this irrespective of whether or not'the chair is tilted. To fold the chair, the back rest frame C must be swung forwardly with reference to the seat structure 16, and this exerts a rearward pull at the pivotal point 20 to swing the rear leg structure B into aligned nested relation to the front leg structure A- while the link D and seat 16 are moved to nested relation simultaneouslywith the downward and forward swinging movement of the back rest frame C. The link Ealso moves to a substantially nested aligned relation to the seat, and the leg structures.

What is claimed is:

l. A folding chair having the combination of a rigid seat, pivotally connected pairs of crossed legs, one pair having at their upper ends direct pivotal connection with the rear of the seat and the other pair having their upper ends spaced from the seat when the chair is set up, a linked supporting connection between the upper ends of the latter legs and the seat nearer its forward end, a back rest frame including side rails having pivotal connection with the rear of the seat and a linked connection at their lower terminals with the upper ends of said other pair of legs.

2. A folding chair having the combination of a rigid seat, pivotally connected pairs of crossed legs, one pair having at their upper ends direct pivotal connection with the rear of the seat and the other pair having their upper ends spaced from the seat when the chair is set up, alinked supporting connection between the upper ends of the latter legs and the seat nearer its forward end, a back rest frame including side rails having pivotal connection with the rear of the seat and a linked connection at their lower terminals with the upper ends of said other pair of legs and means adjacent the lower ends of the back frame side rails engageable with the first mentioned legs adjacent their upper ends for limiting the opening of the chair structure.

3. A folding chair having the combination of a rigid seat, pivotally connected pairs of crossed legs, one pair having at their upper ends direct pivotal connection with the rear of the seat and the other pair having at their upper ends linked supporting connection with the seat nearer its forward end, a back rest frame including side rails having pivotal connection with the rear of the seat and a linked connection at their lower terminals with the upper ends of said other pair of legs and means adjacent the lower ends of the back'frame side rails engageable with the first mentioned legs adjacent their upper ends for limiting the opening of the chair structure, said means consisting of inwardly offset portions of said back rest frame side rails.

4. In a folding chair, a rigid seat, a back frame of inverted U-shape, front and rear U-shaped legs having aligned pivotal connection between and intermediate the ends of the side rails thereof, a common pivotal connection between the upper terminals of the side rails of the front legs and the lower ends of the side rails of the back frame and the rear of the seat, a linked connection between the upper ends of the rear leg side rails and the lower terminals of the side rails of the back rest frame and a linked connection between the seat and the upper ends of the rear leg side rails, said linked connection functioning to support the forward portion of the seat in I spaced relation above the upper ends of said rear leg side rails.

5. In a folding chair including pivotally connected pairs of crossed legs and a rigid seat directly connected with the upper end of one pair of legs and links connecting the seat with and supporting the seat in spaced relation to and from the upper ends of the other pair of legs for folding of the leg structure therewith, a back rest frame pivoted to the upper ends of the first mentioned pairs of legs and the rear of the seat and having linked connection with the second mentioned pair of legs at the point of connection of the same with the links.

6. In a folding chair, front and rear leg structures of U-shaped configuration presenting transversely spaced side rails connected at their lower ends by bights, pivotal connection between the side rails of the front and rear leg structures, a back rest frame of inverted U-shaped configuration having side rails connected by an upper bight, a pivotal connection between the lower ends of the side rails of the back frame and the upper ends of the side rails of the front leg structure, means adjacent the lower ends of the side rails of the back rest frame for engaging with the front leg structure and limiting the rearward swinging moveinentof the back rest frame, a rigid connection between the lower terminals of the side rails of the back frame below their point of pivotal connection with the front leg structure and the upper ends of the side rails of the rear leg structure, a rigid seat pivotally connected adjacent the rear portion thereof respectively to the upper ends of the side rails of the front leg structure and to the side rails of the back rest frame adjacent the lower ends thereof and above the lower terminals thereof and a linked supporting connection between the upper ends of the rear leg structure and the under side of the seat, said linked connection functioning to support the-forward portion of the seat in spaced relation to the upper ends of the rear leg structure. r

7. In a folding chair, front and rear leg structures of U--shaped configuration presenting transversely spaced side rails connected at their lower ends by bights, pivotal connection between the side rails of the front and rear leg structures, a back rest frame of inverted U-shaped configuration having side rails connected by an'upper bight, a pivotal connection between the lower ends of the side rails of the back frame and the upper ends of the side rails of the front leg structure, inwardly offset portions adjacent the lower ends of the side rails of the back rest frame for engaging with the front leg structure and limiting the rearward swinging movement of the back rest frame, a rigid connection between the lower terminals of the side rails of the back frame below their point of pivotal connection with the front leg structure and the upper ends of the side rails of the rear leg structure, a rigid seat pivotally connected adjacent the rear portion thereof respectively to the upper ends of the side rails of the front leg structure and to the side rails of the back rest frame adjacent the lower ends thereof and above the lower terminals thereof and a linked supporting connection between the upper ends of the rear leg structure and the under side of the seat.

8. In a folding chair, rigid seat and back rest members, a pair of crossed leg structures having pivotal connection with each other, a common pivotal connection between each side of one of the leg structures, the rear of the seat and the back rest, a linked connection betweeneach side of the remaining leg structure and the seat nearer its forward edge to space the upper end of said remaining leg structure from the seat and a rigid connection between the lower end of the back rest and said remaining leg structure at its point of connection with said linked connection,

FINN, SIMMONS. 

